Asm. Rebecca Kassay

Enacts the "licensure incentives and fee-support for testing (LIFT) act"; establishes the social work licensure examination voucher program to provide low-income individuals vouchers to cover the cost of the examination required for licensure as a licensed master social worker or licensed clinical social worker.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 10085) raises the income eligibility cap for New York's Excelsior Scholarship program from $125,000 to $150,000 for academic years starting in 2026-2027 and beyond. It directly affects students applying for the scholarship who must meet income requirements based on their adjusted gross income (including parents' or spouse's income). The key provision increases the maximum income threshold for qualification, expanding access to the scholarship for higher-income students who previously exceeded the limit. This change applies to all future academic years after 2025-2026, as specified in the bill's text.

Establishes a private right of action for any person whose personally identifying information was intentionally disclosed by another individual, without consent, for the purpose of harassing, threatening, intimidating, or causing harm to such person, or with reckless disregard as to whether such disclosure would cause such harm; defines personal information.

Authorizes the New York Liquidation Bureau to establish a program to evaluate and reimburse eligible local educational agencies for monetary liabilities arising from civil claims or settlement agreements related to certain acts that occurred during a period covered by a liability insurance policy issued by an insolvent insurer.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state constitution to allow the legislature to adjust the number of justices on the supreme court in any judicial district. It sets a population-based limit: the number of justices cannot exceed one per 50,000 residents (or any fraction over 30,000) based on the latest census. The legislature may also reduce justices, but not below the current number in any district. The proposed change requires voter approval in the 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 7.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for specific human services programs effective April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. It directly affects providers of mental health, developmental disability, and addiction services (including clinics, residential programs, and outpatient care) by requiring them to use the COLA funds to provide at least a 2.6% targeted salary increase for eligible staff. The COLA applies to programs funded or certified by the Office of Mental Health, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, and Office of Addiction Services and Supports. This adjustment is inclusive of other inflation factors for the specified period, excluding federal pandemic relief programs.

Relates to preventing discrimination and increasing awareness of rights for employees with menstrual-related conditions, perimenopausal-related conditions and menopausal-related conditions; requires employers to provide employees with an informational pamphlet on any regulations relating to the rights of employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New York corporations already practicing engineering or land surveying before 1935 to add professional geology to their services. To do so, they must amend their corporate charters by December 31, 2028, to include geology as a purpose and have at least one licensed geologist serving as a director or officer. The bill requires these companies to comply with all existing geology practice laws and regulations. It specifically affects legacy engineering and surveying firms seeking to expand their professional services into geology.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State University of New York (SUNY) to install solar canopies on eligible parking facilities across its campuses. SUNY must calculate suitable parking space within one year and achieve a target of covering at least 75% of that space with solar canopies by 2040. New construction projects involving parking facilities (like garages or lots) must include solar canopies unless an institution has already met the 75% goal. The requirement applies to all SUNY campuses and any new parking infrastructure built using state funds or private entities with state capital funding.

Permits the principal of any high school to allow any local fire department, upon request, to enter the school for the purpose of fire department junior recruitment, including, but not limited to: making presentations; disseminating literature; and answering questions by students.